Goal of the Year: Gyasi Zardes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

WHAT: When he was signed by the Galaxy in December after a stellar college career, big things were expected of Gyasi Zardes. His combination of pace, power and finishing was going to be an important asset to the LA attack during his rookie season. On July 20 against Vancouver, all of those skills were on display as Zardes scored the game-winner against the Whitecaps.

With the score tied 1-1 just before the hour mark, Todd Dunivant lofted a long ball over the top of the Vancouver defense, allowing Zardes, who was starting up front alongside Jose Villarreal in the absence of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, to chase the ball down just before it went over the endline. Seemingly trapped along the endline with no other options inside the penalty are, Zardes used the outside of his right foot to lift the ball past defender Brad Rusin before stepping around him and hitting a right-footed shot past the slide of defender Johnny Leveron and the dive of goalkeeper Brad Knighton from the corner of the six-yard box, giving LA a 2-1 lead and victory.

To see the rest of the candidates for LA Galaxy Goal of the Year, go to LAGalaxy.com/GOTY.